The City of Menlo Park, as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the following application:
Use Permit, Architectural Control, Vesting Tentative Parcel Map and Lot Line Adjustment, Below Market Rate Housing Agreement, Heritage Tree Removal Permits, and Environmental Review/O'Brien Drive Portfolio LLC/995-1005 O’Brien Dr. and 1320 Willow Rd.:
The Proposed Project would be developed in two phases, as further described below. The existing three parcels that comprise the Project site would be reconfigured into new parcels (through a lot line adjustment or resubdivision process). In addition, approximately 1,230 square feet in the northeast corner of the 1001 O’Brien Drive parcel would be swapped with the same square footage in the southwest corner of APN 055-421-190 (currently used as part of the parking lot for 1035 O’Brien Drive) to accommodate the proposed site layout and internal vehicular circulation. The proposed site design accommodates sea-level rise, and all proposed ground-level building floors would be raised 2 feet above the 12.8 feet FEMA base flood elevation, per the requirements of Menlo Park Municipal Code Section 16.44.130(4).
Phase 1 of the Proposed Project would include:
- Demolition of 985 O’Brien Drive and 1001 O’Brien Drive buildings (total 40,586 square feet) and demolition of the eastern half of 1320 Willow Road (approximately 24,032 square feet),
- Lot line adjustment or merger and resubdivision in the central portion of the site to combine the existing parcels at 985 and 1001 O’Brien and the eastern portion of the parcel at 1320 Willow Road into a single parcel and to make the eastern property line perpendicular to O’Brien Drive, which would include adding the western portion of the surface parking lot for 1035 O’Brien Drive into the Project site,
- Construction of one R&D building with 154,581 square feet at 1005 O’Brien Drive,
- Construction of a 200-square-foot chemical storage enclosure and a solid waste/recycling enclosure, and installation of an emergency generator and enclosure west of the 1005 O’Brien Drive building,
- Construction of a five-level parking garage,
- Restriping existing asphalt south of the building at 1320 Willow Road to create surface parking, and
- Construction of landscaping, open space, and designated pedestrian areas.
In Phase 1, the Project proposes to remove seven onsite trees (identified as heritage trees) and three non-heritage trees on the area being added from 1035 O’Brien Drive. Phase 1 of the Proposed Project also includes development of approximately 38,559 square feet of open space, of which approximately 21,633 square feet would be publicly accessible. Landscaping would include planting 100 new trees. Open space would be situated along the northern and southern border of the site as well as the central portion of the site and would include the following components: meandering pedestrian paths/walkways, a main entry plaza, bioretention areas for stormwater, public seating and gathering areas, picnic and bistro tables, a sports court, outdoor terrace and activity space, and flex turf space (with emergency access).
Phase 2 of the Proposed Project would include:
- Demolition of the remaining western portion of the building at 1320 Willow Road (approximately 26,013 square feet);
- Construction of one R&D building at 1320 Willow Road consisting of 73,817 square feet;
- Construction of one full additional floor and one partial additional floor within the parking garage structure, resulting in a final seven-level garage with 6.5 floors of parking;
- Construction of a 200-square-foot chemical storage enclosure and solid waste/recycling enclosure south of the 1320 Willow Road building and west of the 1005 O’Brien Drive building, and installation of an emergency generator; and
- Construction of additional landscaping, open space, and designated pedestrian areas.
In Phase 2, the Project proposes to remove an additional three onsite trees, two of which are heritage trees and one is a non-heritage tree. The Project design preserves one existing tree onsite, which is a heritage tree. Phase 2 also includes approximately 20,785 square feet of additional open space, of which approximately 9,902 square feet would be publicly accessible, and 45 additional trees would be planted. The new open space developed during this phase would be primarily located along the northwest and western boundary of the site and would include additional walking/pedestrian pathways, public gathering spaces, a public plaza, bioretention areas, public seating areas, bike racks, and a main entry plaza to the 1320 Willow Road Building along Willow Road. The public plaza is envisioned to function as a central gathering space site within the open space area and would consist of a concrete pad with a trellis and backdrop screening and flexible seating, suitable for picnics and similar activities.
Copies of the Draft EIR and NOA will be available on the City’s website at menlopark.gov/1005-OBrien, starting Wednesday, April 1, 2026. A hard copy will be available for review as of the same date at the Main Library, 800 Alma Street, the Belle Haven Community Campus library, 100 Terminal Avenue, and Menlo Park City Hall, 701 Laurel Street. Interested parties should inquire at the library information desk.
The 47-day comment period required by CEQA Guidelines Section 15105 for the Draft EIR has been set from Wednesday, April 1 through Monday, May 18, 2026. Written comments should be submitted by email to Senior Planner Chris Turner at crturner@menlopark.gov, or by letter to Chris Turner, Senior Planner, Community Development, 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA 94025, no later than 5:00 p.m., Monday, May 18, 2026. Following the close of the public review period, the City will prepare a Final EIR, which will include responses to all substantive comments received on the Draft EIR.
The Planning Commission will hold a pubic hearing on the Draft EIR and a study session on this item in a teleconference meeting (virtual and in the City Council Chambers located at 751 Laurel St., Menlo Park, California), on Monday, May 4, at 7 p.m., or as near as possible thereafter, at which time and place interested persons may appear and be heard.
Written comments may be submitted to Senior Planner Chris Turner or mailed to
Chris Turner
Community Development
701 Laurel St.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Email correspondence is preferred.